Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08PARIS1304
2008-07-10 10:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
ZIMBABWE/UNSCR: FRENCH "REASONABLY OPTIMISTIC" OF
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHFR #1304 1921029 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 101029Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3695 INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHSB/AMEMBASSY HARARE IMMEDIATE 0461
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001304
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR IO/PSC CLARK
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2018
TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM ZI XA ZU UK FR
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE/UNSCR: FRENCH "REASONABLY OPTIMISTIC" OF
ADOPTION
REF: A. STATE 73173
B. LONDON 1823
C. USUN 610
Classified By: Political Counselor Andew Young, 1.4 (b/d).
(C) French MFA IO desk officer Gurvan Le Bras on July 10
said that France was ready to vote for adoption of the draft
UNSC sanctions resolution on Zimbabwe (ref A) and to
co-sponsor it. The MFA had sent appropriate instructions to
the French UN mission. Le Bras said that the GOF was
"reasonably optimistic" the resolution would be adopted,
citing only Russia as a concern. He was aware of the
dynamics concerning Russia over this issue as described in
refs B and C and the Russian request that the vote be delayed
until July 11. Le Bras said, however, that he did not
believe the Russians would veto the text, given recent
indications, most notably at the G-8 meeting in Japan, even
if subsequent Russian declarations were more equivocal. He
thought that the Russian UN mission's request to delay the
vote in order to receive formal instructions meant that the
Russian UN mission wanted Moscow's confirmation not to veto
the draft resolution rather than orders that Russia should
veto it. Le Bras agreed with the U.S. view (also expressed
by French UN PermRep Ripert) that we should take advantage of
the current momentum favoring adoption and seek a vote as
soon as circumstances (i.e., the Russia issue) permit.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Fran ce
STAPLETON
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR IO/PSC CLARK
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2018
TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM ZI XA ZU UK FR
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE/UNSCR: FRENCH "REASONABLY OPTIMISTIC" OF
ADOPTION
REF: A. STATE 73173
B. LONDON 1823
C. USUN 610
Classified By: Political Counselor Andew Young, 1.4 (b/d).
(C) French MFA IO desk officer Gurvan Le Bras on July 10
said that France was ready to vote for adoption of the draft
UNSC sanctions resolution on Zimbabwe (ref A) and to
co-sponsor it. The MFA had sent appropriate instructions to
the French UN mission. Le Bras said that the GOF was
"reasonably optimistic" the resolution would be adopted,
citing only Russia as a concern. He was aware of the
dynamics concerning Russia over this issue as described in
refs B and C and the Russian request that the vote be delayed
until July 11. Le Bras said, however, that he did not
believe the Russians would veto the text, given recent
indications, most notably at the G-8 meeting in Japan, even
if subsequent Russian declarations were more equivocal. He
thought that the Russian UN mission's request to delay the
vote in order to receive formal instructions meant that the
Russian UN mission wanted Moscow's confirmation not to veto
the draft resolution rather than orders that Russia should
veto it. Le Bras agreed with the U.S. view (also expressed
by French UN PermRep Ripert) that we should take advantage of
the current momentum favoring adoption and seek a vote as
soon as circumstances (i.e., the Russia issue) permit.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Fran ce
STAPLETON